Manual reset valve



Dec. 14, 1948. E. PAILLE MANUAL RESET VALVE Filed May 10, 1947 |NvENToR. Eucnvs BULLE ATTORNEY mene Dee. 14, 194s' MANUAL RESET VALVE Eugene Paille, Los Angeles, Calif., asslgnor to General Controls Co., Glendale, Calif., a corporation oi Califomla Application May 10, 1947, Serial No. 747,309

8 Claims. l

This invention relates to manually-operable fluid-control valve structures, and more particularly to those of the type which include a plug rotatable to normally control flow through the structure, and a safety shut-off valve controlling all ow through the structure and retained in open position by means responsive to a controlling condition, such as temperature or pressure. v Such an arrangement has particular utility in connection with a gas-burner system c prising a main burner and a pilot burner there or; flow. to the main burner being controlled bythe plug valve,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of collapsible connection; and

Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sections taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; the parts being and the pilot burner being so connected to the A valve structure that flow to this burner is controlled only by the shut-off valve; vmeans responsive to the flame of the pilot'burner being employed to maintain the shut-oil! valve open.

A general object of this invention is to provide a valve structure of the character described which includes means whereby the shut-oil valve can be opened only while the plug is in a predetermined ow-controlllng position. When the valve structure is employed in a gas-burner system of the type mentioned, the arrangement is such that the safety shut-ofi valve can be opened to supply gas to the pilot burner only while the plug is in closed position; obstruction of flow to the main burner minimizing the possibility of explosion when the pilot burner is lighted.

A more specic object o! the invention is to provide, in a valve structure of the-character described in the preceding object, a connection between the shut-oi valve and the means for opening the same, which connection is so arranged and Y so cooperates with theplug valve that if `an attempt is made to open the shut-off valve while the plug is in a position other than said predetermined low-controlling position, the connection will yield or collapse so that it ls ineffective to transmit the force required for opening the shut-olf valve. I

For full understanding of the invention, and further appreciation of its features and advantages, reference is to,be had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve structure embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the mechanism, shown in Fig. 1, for operating the plug and the shut-oi valve; .this view being taken from the piane of the une 2--2 of Fig. 1 and with theplug rotated in counterclockwlse direction through 90 from its position as shown in that ligure;

shown in relatively rotated position ,in Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the numeral II indicates va valve casing having an inlet passage I2 and a main outlet-passage I3. Seated in a tapered bore communicating with said passages is a plug Il having a` large cavity I5 extending from the bottom of the plug 'to the top wall I8 thereof. Brarching from the plug-cavity I5 is a side opening l1 adapted to be placed into and out-of register with the outlet passage I3 by rotation of the plug; a lug IB on the plug cooperating with abutments (not shown) in the casing to limit rotation of the plug to approximately 90. A

Also controlling flow through the casing is a safety shut-off valve comprising a disk-shaped closure I9 cooperable withan annular seat 20 formed in the casing below the plug I4. The

closure I3 is biased toward closed position by a spring 2l compressed between it and a plate 22 covering the bottom of the valve casing; the

portion of the valve casing; rthe stem being shown broken to indicate that it may be long enough to reach the valve structure from the iioor-level when the structure is located adjacent a iioor furnace. The lower or inner portion 21 of the stem 25A is squared to llt freely in a square opening through the top wall I6 of the plug. A spring 28, compressed between the plug I4 and a shoulder 29 formed on the stem 25, urges the stem upwardly and also serves to maintain the plug properly seated; a light spring 30, compressed between the shoulder 29 and a sealing gland 3|, limiting upward movement of the stem.

Forming a connection between the handle-- stem 25, 2l and the closure-rod 23 is a toggle 3 ball after assembly to hold it in place. A pair of plates 31 project upwardly adjacent the togglejoint from opposite sides of the enlargement 36 (see Fig. 2). These plates 3l are in planes spaced from and parallel to the plane oi movement of the toggle-joint when the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, so that if downward iorce is then applied, through the handle 24, to the stem 2l, 21 the toggle-Joint collapses (downward movement of the stem being limited by full-compression of spring 20) and no movement is imparted to the rod 2l and the closure Il carried thereby, which parts are retained in the position to which they are biased by spring 2l.

However, il the plug I4 is` rs-t rotated, by manipulation oi' handle 24, in counterclockwise direction (as viewed from the top) through 90 to its closed position, the part-s will then be in the positions shown in Fig. 2; it being borne in mind that this view is taken from the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and with -the plug rotated through 90.

V( the relative position of the casing outlet passage Il being indicatedtin broken lines). As seen in Fig. 2 (since the rod 2l-is restrained iromwrotation by plate. 22) the side-arm 31 is in the path of movement of the knee of the toggle-Joint and therefore so limits the collapse of this joint that downward force on the stem-portion 21 then effects corresponding downward movemen-t or drive of the closure-rod 23. From the foregoing it is clear that the connection between the handlestem and the closure-rod is effective to transmit the desired operating force only when the plug is'in closed position.

For retaining the shut-oft closure I9 in open position, after it has been brought to that position by downward movement of rod 23 as described above, there is rockably mounted on the bottom of rod 23 a disk 38 which is of magnetic material and constitutes an amature cooperable with an electromagnet 38 mounted in a cup-shaped housing 40 secured to the bottom of the valve casing; the electromagnet comprising a U-shaped core 4I having around oneof its side arms an energizing coil 42 the leads of which are connected to terminals 43 insulatingly mounted inthe side .wall of the housing. Also connected to these terminals is a thermoelectric generating device or thermocouple 44 of conventional construction and having a hot-Junction portion 45 adapted to be heated by the llame 46 of a pilot burner 41 which, when the valve is employed in a gas-burner control system, is supplied with fuel by way of a passage 48 in the valve casing between the shut-oil' closure lland the plugl4; the pilot burner also serving to ignite a main burner (not shown) connected to the main outlet I3 of the valvefstructure.

With the parts in the positions shown in Fig.

1, to initiate operation of the burner system the plug I4 is rotated by means of the handle 24 to the position of Fig. 2, the handle then being depressed to open the closure I9 and bring the armature IB-into engagement with the pole-faces of' thejelectromagnet 39. While maintaining the handle in fully-repressed position, the gas then flowing to the pilot burner is lighted so that after a brief interval the thermocouple is heated to a degree such tha-t electricity is thereby generated in an amount sumcient to energi the electromagnet to hold the armatureand connected parts, whereupon the handle maybe released and subsequently rotated to control the supply of gas to the main burner. Since, by the arrangement described, the main burner cannot be supplied until A of Iaccumulation (as in a furnace) of gas in an amount sufllcient to cause a dangerous explosion is avoided. In the event of extlngulshment of the pilot burner, upon cooling of the thermocouple the electromagnet is deenergized so that the armature is released and it and the parts connected to it return, under the force of spring 2|, to their elevated positions as shown in Fig. 1; it then being necessary to manually-reset the valves in the manner hereinbefore described.

Referring now to Figs. 3-5 of the drawing, the modified'iorm of connection shown in lthese tlgures is adapted to serve the same purpose as the connection constituted by the toggle-joint and limiting-means shown ir Figs. l and 2; the members in Figs. 3-5 corresp )nding to Ithe stem-portion 21 and closure-rod 23 therefore having been assigned the same numerals with a prime-mark added. Extending integrally from the respective members 23' and 21' are telescopingly-arranged tubul-ar elements 50 and 5I, the inner element 5| being considerably shorter than the outer one. Within theelements, :and bearing against the closed ends thereof, is a helical spring 52. In the side walls of the elements, and extending substantlally the full length thereof, are slots 53 and 54 which, when the elements are in the relative angular positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are in register so that if compressive force is then applied between the members 23' and 21 the middle portion of the spring 52 is projected through the slots to its position shown in broken lines, thus eiecting collapse of the connection. When the elements Sil-5i are rotated through 90 relative to each other (as when the plug valve is turned to closed position) the elements assume the positions shown in Fig. 5 wherein the spring 52 is so confined -by v4the elements that the connection is then effective to transmit compressive force.

The specic embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is obviously susceptible of modication without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I intend therefore -to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination: a valve casing; a first valve comprising an apertured plug seated in said casing and rotatable to control flow therethrough;

an additional valve also controlling flow through said casing; means for operating said additional valve comprising a pair of spaced members in axial alignment and movable along said axis; means 4disposed generally along said axis and forming a, connection between said members, said connection normally' being collapsible away from said axis when compressive force is applied between its ends so thatdt is ineiective to trans- -mit said force from one of the members to drive one of said members being so connected to saidl plug that it: rotates therewith, theother of said members beingl restrained from rotation; means vdisposed generally along said axis and forming the other; and means, operated by the resultant relative rotation of said members when said plug is rotated to a predetermined flow-controlling position, for so limiting the collapse of said connection that the same is then eiective to transmit compressive force between the members for operating said additional valve.

3. In combination: a valve casing; a first valve comprising an apertured plug seated in said cas ing and rotatable to control flow therethrough; an additional valve also controlling flow through saidvcasing; means for rotating said `plug and for operatingsaid additional valve comprising a pair of'e'longated members, noncircular in crosssectionv and spaced from each other, one of said members `being reciprocable in a conforming.

opening. through said plug along the axis of ro"- aligned with said one of the members and guided in a conforming opening in a xed portion of said casing; means. disposed generally along the axis of said members and forming a connection therebetween, said connection normally being collapsible away from said axis when compressive force is applied between its ends so that it is ineffective to transmit said force from one of the members to drive the other; and means adjacent said connection and secured to one of said members for so limiting the collapse of the connection, when the members are in a relatglvely-rotatedposition corresponding to a predetermined fioW-controlling position of said plug, that the connection is then eiective to transmit compressive force between the members for. operating said additional valve.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, and wherein said collapsible connection is in the form of a toggle-joint.` y

5. The.' combination defined in claim 3, and wherein said collapsible connection comprises any elongatedmember of resilient construrvstion.

6. `In combination: a valve casing; a firstfvalveA comprising an apertured plug seated in said casing and rotatable to control flow therethrough;

biased to closed position; means for rotating said .plug and for opening said lsafety-valve closure,

comprising a pair ofelongated members, non'- circular in cross-section and spacedfrom each other.; one of said members being reciprocable in a conforming' opening through said plug along the axis of rotation thereof and provided with a handle; the other of said members being aligned with said one of the members and guided inr a conforming opening through a `fixed portion of said casing, said other of the members carrying said safety-valve closure; i means disposed generally along. the axis of said members and forming an elongated connection therebetween, said connection normally being collapsible away from said axis when compressive force is applied between its ends so that it -is ineiective totransmit' force from said one of the members to drive the closure-carrying member against the force tation thereof, the other of said members being v' of said closure-bias; and means, at the side of said connection and secured to one of said members, for so limitingthe collapse of the connection, when the members are in a relativelyrotated position corresponding to the closed position of said plug, that 'the connection is then eiiective to transmit compressive force between the members for opening said closure.

7. The combination defined in claim 6, and wherein said connection is in the form of a toggle-joint; and said means for limiting collapse of said connection comprises means at the side of the connection-deiinng, when said plug -is in closed position, a surface engageable by the knee of said toggle-joint; said surface being in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane 'ofy movement of the toggle-joint when the plug is rotated to open position,

n 8. The combination defined in claim 6, and wherein said connection comprises an elongated helical spring; and said means for vlimiting co1- lapse of said connection comprises a pair of telea safety's`hutotf valve also controlling flow K through said casing and comprising :a closure scoped tubular elements secured individually to said members and .arranged` tol confine said spring when said plug is in .closed position; the side walls of said tubular elements having elongated slots, brought into register `when the plug is rotatedf to open positioniand through which slotsv the spring ,can th'en collapse when compressive force is kapplied lbetween its ends.

" EUGENE PAILLE.

No references cited. g 

